JP2017146383A - Optical drive device, lens device and imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an excessive load from acting on an actuator actuating an operation member of an optical instrument or transmission mechanism thereof in an optical drive device to be mounted to the optical instrument.SOLUTION: An optical instrument 100 includes: a manually operable lens side operation member 130; and a lock mechanism 109 that is switchable to a lock state where a motion of the lens side operation member is limited and to a lock release state where the limit is released. An optical drive device 200 includes: a drive device side operation member 208; an actuator 202 that actuates the lens side operation member; and control means 201 that controls a drive of the actuator. The control means actuates the actuator in accordance with an operation of the drive device side operation member when the lock mechanism is in the lock release state, and, when the lock mechanism is in the lock state, is brought into at least one of a state without actuating the actuator in accordance with the operation of the drive device side operation member and a state where an alarm operation is performed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical drive device that is externally attached to an optical apparatus such as a video camera, a digital camera, and an interchangeable lens.

  In the optical apparatus as described above, a user manually operates an operation member such as a manual operation ring provided in the lens barrel, and the lens in the lens barrel is moved in the optical axis direction to zoom (magnification). And focus (focus adjustment). However, in such an interchangeable lens or imaging apparatus, for example, when taking a moving image, it may be more convenient to perform zooming and focusing by driving the lens with an actuator.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-26883 describes an optical system that is attached (externally attached) to a lens barrel of an interchangeable lens that can be zoomed by manual operation of a zoom operation ring, and that the zoom operation ring can be rotationally driven by an actuator according to the operation of a zoom switch. A drive device is disclosed.

  Patent Document 2 discloses an optical drive device that includes a clutch mechanism and can select a manual zoom operation and an actuator drive by switching the clutch mechanism.

JP 2007-108373 A Japanese Patent No. 2773230

  However, some optical devices have a lock mechanism that restricts (locks) the movement of an operation member provided in the lens barrel. In such an optical device, when the actuator of the optical drive device is driven while the lock mechanism is in the locked state, an excessive load acts on the actuator and a transmission mechanism such as a gear that transmits the driving force to the operation member.

  The present invention provides an optical drive in which, when an optical device has a lock mechanism that restricts the operation of an operation member, it is possible to avoid an excessive load from acting on an actuator or a transmission mechanism that drives the operation member. Provided are an apparatus and an optical apparatus to which the apparatus is mounted.

  An optical drive device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a lock that can be switched between a lens-side operation member that can be manually operated, a locked state that restricts the movement of the lens-side operation member, and an unlocked state that releases the restriction. And is detachably attached to an optical device having a mechanism. The optical drive device includes a drive device side operation member, an actuator that drives the lens side operation member, and a control unit that controls driving of the actuator. The control means drives the actuator according to the operation of the drive device side operation member when the lock mechanism is in the unlocked state, and controls the actuator according to the operation of the drive device side operation member when the lock mechanism is in the lock state. It is characterized in that it is at least one of a state where driving is not performed and a state where warning operation is performed.

  An optical apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention switches between a lens-side operation member that can be manually operated, a locked state that restricts movement of the lens-side operation member, and an unlocked state that releases the restriction. And the optical drive device is detachably mounted.

  An imaging device according to another aspect of the present invention is an imaging device having an imaging element and detachably mounted with the optical device, and performs a warning operation in response to receiving warning information. It is characterized by that.

  Furthermore, an optical drive program according to another aspect of the present invention includes a lens-side operation member that can be manually operated, a locked state that restricts movement of the lens-side operation member, and an unlocked state that releases the restriction. A computer program for operating a computer of an optical drive device that is detachably mounted on an optical device having a switchable lock mechanism and has a drive device side operation member and an actuator that drives a lens side operation member. And causing the computer to drive the actuator according to the operation of the driving device side operation member when the lock mechanism is in the unlocked state, and the actuator according to the operation of the driving device side operation member when the lock mechanism is in the locked state. To be at least one of the state where the drive is not performed and the state where the warning operation is performed Features.

  According to the present invention, when the driving device side operation member is operated when the movement of the lens side operation member is restricted by the lock mechanism, the actuator is not driven or a warning operation is performed according to the operation. To do. For this reason, it is possible to avoid an excessive load from acting on the actuator (and the transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force to the operation member).

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a camera system that includes a drive adapter that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention, an interchangeable lens, and a camera. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a camera system including a drive adapter that is Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 3 of the present invention, an interchangeable lens, and a camera. 3 is a flowchart showing processing in the first embodiment. 9 is a flowchart showing processing in the second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing another process in the second embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a drive adapter (hereinafter simply referred to as an adapter) 200 as an optical drive apparatus that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The adapter 200 is detachably attached to the lens barrel of the interchangeable lens 100. The interchangeable lens 100 is detachably attached to a camera 300 as an imaging device. The camera 300, the interchangeable lens 100, and the adapter 200 constitute a camera system. In the following description, the x axis shown in FIG. 1 is the optical axis, and the direction in which the optical axis extends is called the optical axis direction.

  The camera 300 includes an image sensor 301 that photoelectrically converts a subject image formed by a photographing optical system (described later) in the interchangeable lens 100. The camera 300 has a camera CPU 302. The camera CPU 302 generates an image signal using the output from the image sensor 301 and controls various operations of the camera 300.

  The camera CPU 302 communicates with the lens CPU 113 in the interchangeable lens 100 via the camera side and lens side contact blocks 310 and 120. The camera CPU 302 transmits a focus drive command and an aperture drive command to the lens CPU 113 and transmits / receives various data to / from the lens CPU 113. Further, the camera 300 includes a liquid crystal display unit 303 that displays the generated image signal, a focus detection unit 304 that detects the focus state of the photographing optical system using the image signal, and each unit in the camera 300 and the interchangeable lens 100. A main power supply 305 for supplying power is included.

  The focus detection unit 304 performs autofocus (AF) in a contrast detection method in which the position of the focus lens that maximizes the contrast evaluation value signal generated from the high-frequency component of the image signal is detected as the focus position. Further, the focus detection unit 304 may perform phase difference AF that moves the focus lens by a drive amount corresponding to the defocus amount obtained using the phase difference between a pair of images having parallax.

  On the outer periphery of the lens barrel of the interchangeable lens 100, a zoom operation ring 130 is provided as a lens side operation member that can be rotated (that is, movable) by a user's manual operation. Further, an AF switch 107 operated by a user to switch between AF and MF (manual focus) is provided on the outer periphery of the lens barrel. Further, on the outer periphery of the lens barrel, a zoom lock constituting a part of a lock mechanism for restricting the rotation of the IS switch 108 and the zoom operation ring 130 operated by the user to switch the anti-vibration operation on and off. A switch 109 is provided. The AF switch 107 and the IS switch 108 are provided with switch detection units 110 and 111, respectively, and detection signals corresponding to the operation positions of the switches 107 and 108 are input to the lens CPU 113.

The zoom lock switch 109 can be switched between a locked state in which the rotation (movement) of the zoom operation ring 130 is restricted (locked) and an unlocked state in which the restriction is released. Specifically, by operating the zoom lock switch 109 to the lock position, the convex portion of the zoom lock switch 109 engages with a concave portion provided at one place in the circumferential direction of the zoom operation ring 130, and the zoom operation ring 130. Is limited mechanically. Thus, the zoom operation ring 130 (that is, the lock mechanism constituted by the convex portion of the zoom lock switch 109 and the concave portion of the zoom operation ring 130) is locked. Further, by operating the zoom lock switch 109 to the unlock position, the convex portion of the zoom lock switch 109 is detached from the concave portion of the zoom operation ring 130 and the restriction on the rotation of the zoom operation ring 130 is released. In this way, the zoom operation ring 130 (lock mechanism) is unlocked. The lock detection unit 112 detects the lock position and the lock release position, which are the operation positions of the zoom lock switch 109. The detection result of the operation position of the zoom lock switch 109 output from the lock detection unit 112, that is, lock information indicating the locked state or the unlocked state is input to the lens CPU 113. Then, the data is transmitted from the lens CPU 113 to the adapter CPU 201 in the adapter 200.

  In the lens barrel of the interchangeable lens 100, a fixed lens group 101, a focus lens 102 that moves in the optical axis direction to adjust the focus, a diaphragm 103 that adjusts the amount of light, and a variable magnification that moves in the optical axis direction. A photographic optical system including a variable power lens group 104 that performs the above is housed. A zoom position detection unit 114 that detects the position (zoom position) of the variable power lens group 104 is provided in the lens barrel.

  The lens CPU 113 controls the actuators in the focus driving unit 105 and the aperture driving unit 106 according to the focus driving command and the aperture driving command received from the camera CPU 302. Thereby, the focus lens 102 is moved in the optical axis direction to adjust the focus, or the aperture diameter of the diaphragm 103 is changed to adjust the light amount. Further, when the zoom operation ring 130 is rotated by the user, the zoom lens group 104 moves in the optical axis direction. Thereby, manual zoom can be performed. The zoom lock switch 109 described above is provided to limit the movement of the variable power lens group 104 due to its own weight or vibration applied to the interchangeable lens 100 when the tip of the interchangeable lens 100 is directed downward. ing.

  Further, the lens CPU 113 communicates with the adapter CPU 201 in the adapter 200 via the lens side and adapter side contact blocks 121 and 210.

  The adapter 200 has a lock claw (not shown) that can be attached to and detached from the lens barrel of the interchangeable lens 100, and the adapter 200 is attached to the interchangeable lens 100 by engaging the lock claw with the lens barrel. . The adapter 200 includes a zoom drive motor 202 that is an actuator for rotationally driving the zoom operation ring 130, a gear unit 203 as a transmission mechanism, and an output gear 204 that meshes with a gear portion 131 provided on the outer periphery of the zoom operation ring 130. And have.

  The rotational driving force from the zoom driving motor 202 is transmitted to the output gear 204 via the gear unit 203 to rotate it. As a result, the zoom operation ring 130 is driven to rotate, and electric zoom is performed.

  The adapter 200 includes a clutch mechanism 205 that is provided between the zoom drive motor 202 and the gear unit 203 and that connects or disconnects the zoom drive motor 202 and the gear unit 203. The adapter 200 also includes a clutch switch 206 that is operated by the user to switch the clutch mechanism 205 between a connected state and a disconnected state.

  Further, the adapter 200 is provided with a zoom switch (drive device side operation member) 208 that is operated by a user to perform electric zoom. When the zoom switch 208 is operated, the operation amount is detected by the operation amount detection unit 209, and a zoom operation signal corresponding to the operation amount is input to the adapter CPU (control unit) 201. The adapter CPU 201 gives a drive signal corresponding to the zoom operation signal to the zoom drive motor 202 to rotate it. Thereby, the electric zoom to the target position according to the operation amount of the zoom switch 208 is performed.

  Next, processing performed by the adapter CPU 201 in this embodiment will be described using the flowchart of FIG. The adapter CPU 201 that is a computer executes this processing in accordance with a lens driving program (optical driving program) that is a computer program.

  In step S <b> 101, the adapter CPU 201 detects the operation amount of the zoom switch 208 by the user through the operation amount detection unit 209.

  Next, in step S102, the adapter CPU 201 sets the target position of the zoom position according to the operation amount detected in step S101.

  In step S103, the adapter CPU 201 communicates with the lens CPU 113 to acquire lens information. The lens information includes zoom position information on the interchangeable lens 100, lock information indicating the operation position of the zoom lock switch 208, and the like.

  In step S104, the adapter CPU 201 determines whether the zoom lock switch 109 is in the locked state (lock position) or unlocked state (lock release position) from the received lock information. This determination may be performed by the lens CPU 113 that has acquired the lock information, and the determination result may be transmitted to the adapter CPU 201.

  If the zoom lock switch 109 is in the unlocked state, the adapter CPU 201 proceeds to step S105 and drives the zoom drive motor 202 so that the zoom position is directed to the target position. The adapter CPU 201 confirms the zoom position information (lens information) after driving in step S106, and determines whether or not the zoom position has reached the target position in step S107. If the zoom position has not reached the target position, the process returns to step S104 and the processes of steps S104 to S107 are repeated. If the zoom position has reached the target position, the adapter CPU 201 ends this process.

  On the other hand, the adapter CPU 201 that has determined in step S104 that the zoom lock switch 109 is in the locked state ends the process as it is. That is, the adapter CPU 201 is in a non-driving state in which the zoom driving motor 202 is not driven according to the operation of the zoom switch 208 in the locked state. In other words, in the locked state, the driving of the zoom drive motor 202 according to the operation of the zoom switch 208 is limited (prohibited).

  If the zoom drive motor 202 is driven in a locked state in which the rotation of the zoom operation ring 130 is restricted, the load acting on the zoom drive motor 202, the gear unit 203, and the output gear 204 may become excessive. For this reason, in this embodiment, it is possible to avoid such an excessive load by not driving (limiting) the zoom drive motor 202 in the locked state.

  Next, an adapter 200 that is Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the case where the zoom drive motor 202 in the adapter 200 is not driven when the zoom lock switch 109 is in the locked state has been described. However, it may be difficult for the user to understand why the electric zoom by the adapter 200 is not started even if the zoom switch 208 is operated only by not driving the zoom drive motor 202.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the LED display unit 220 is provided in the adapter 200 ′, and the LED display unit 220 is turned on or blinked in response to the operation of the zoom switch 208 when the zoom lock switch 109 is in the locked state. That is, a warning is displayed. At this time, it is preferable that the light emission color of the LED display unit 220 is a light emission color dedicated to warning display different from the normal light emission color indicating that the adapter 200 ′ is turned on.

  Similar warning display may be performed on the liquid crystal display unit 303 of the camera 300. In this case, a warning message may be displayed as a warning display that can more accurately convey the content of the warning to the user. Further, instead of the warning display or together with the warning display, a warning sound (including a warning message) may be generated from a speaker (not shown) provided in the adapter 200 or the camera 300.

  Thus, when the adapter CPU 201 enters a warning state in which a warning operation (warning display or warning sound is generated), the zoom lock switch 109 is in the locked state, so that even if the user operates the zoom switch 208, the electric zoom is performed. You can easily understand what is not.

  FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the camera system in the present embodiment. The configuration of the camera system of the present embodiment is the same as the configuration of the camera system of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 except that the LED display unit 220 is provided on the adapter 200 ′. In the camera system of the present embodiment, components common to those of the camera system of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment and are not described.

  4 and 5 show processing performed by the adapter CPU 201 in this embodiment. The adapter CPU 201 that is a computer executes this processing in accordance with a lens driving program (optical driving program) that is a computer program. The processing of steps S101 to S107 in these flowcharts is the same as the processing of steps S101 to S107 in the flowchart of FIG.

  In FIG. 4, the adapter CPU 201 that has determined that the zoom lock switch 109 is in the locked state in step S104 proceeds to step S201, and performs a warning display that blinks (or lights) the LED display unit 220. Then, similarly to the first embodiment, the present process is terminated without driving the zoom drive motor 202.

  On the other hand, in FIG. 5, the adapter CPU 201 that has determined in step S104 that the zoom lock switch 109 is in the locked state proceeds to step S301. In step S301, the adapter CPU 201 transmits warning information to the lens CPU 113 to the camera CPU 302 in response to the operation of the zoom switch 208 when the zoom lock switch 109 is in the locked state (steps S101 and S104). Let

  In response to the warning information, the camera CPU 302 displays a display corresponding to blinking or lighting of an LED or a warning message on the liquid crystal display unit 303 of the camera 300, that is, a warning display. Then, similarly to the first embodiment, the present process is terminated without driving the zoom drive motor 202.

  In step S201 and step S301, a warning sound may be generated instead of or together with the warning display as described above.

  In the first and second embodiments, the case where the zoom drive motor 202 is not driven when the zoom switch 208 is operated while the zoom lock switch 109 is in the locked state has been described. However, a warning operation may be performed while driving the zoom drive motor 202 while generating a smaller driving force than usual (or energizing the motor to such an extent that little driving force is generated).

  In the first and second embodiments, the lock detection unit 112 provided in the interchangeable lens 100 detects whether the zoom lock switch 109 is in the locked state or the unlocked state, and the adapter CPU 201 communicates lock information indicating the detection result by communication. Explained the case of acquisition. However, whether the zoom lock switch 109 is in the locked state or the unlocked state may be detected by lock detection units (detection means: indicated by broken lines in FIG. 2) 231 and 232 provided in the adapter 200 (200 ′). .

  For example, when driving of the zoom drive motor 202 is started by operating the zoom switch 208 in the locked state, the load of the zoom drive motor 202 increases, and the current value applied to the motor 202 increases. The lock state can be detected when the current value detected by the lock detector 231 as a current detector provided in the zoom drive motor 202 exceeds a predetermined value. In addition, a clutch that is disconnected due to an increased load when driving of the zoom drive motor 202 is started in the locked state is provided in the gear unit 203, and the locked state is detected through a lock detector 232 that detects that the clutch has been disconnected. Can be detected.

  In these examples, the zoom drive motor 202 starts to be driven by operating the zoom switch 208 in the locked state, but immediately after that, the locked state is detected and the zoom drive motor 202 is not driven. It becomes a state. As a result, as in the first and second embodiments, it is possible to avoid an excessive load acting on the zoom drive motor 202, the gear unit 203, and the like.

  In each of the above embodiments, the combination of the interchangeable lens 100 having the lock mechanism for the zoom operation ring 130 and the adapter 200 has been described. However, the processing described in each embodiment can also be performed in a combination of an interchangeable lens having a lock mechanism for an operation member other than the zoom operation ring, such as a focus operation ring, and an adapter that drives the operation member.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the adapter 200 is attached to the interchangeable lens 100 has been described. However, each implementation is also performed when the adapter is attached to the lens barrel of the lens-integrated camera (optical apparatus). The processing described in the example can be performed.
(Other examples)
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program This process can be realized. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

  Each embodiment described above is only a representative example, and various modifications and changes can be made to each embodiment in carrying out the present invention.

100 Interchangeable lens 104 Variable magnification lens 130 Zoom operation ring 200 Adapter 201 Adapter CPU
202 Zoom drive motor 208 Zoom switch

Claims (7)

Removable from an optical apparatus having a lens-side operation member that can be manually operated, and a lock mechanism that can be switched between a locked state that restricts the movement of the lens-side operation member and an unlocked state that releases the restriction. An optical drive device to be mounted,
A driving device side operation member;
An actuator for driving the lens side operation member;
Control means for controlling the drive of the actuator,
The control means includes
When the lock mechanism is in the unlocked state, the actuator is driven according to the operation of the driving device side operation member,
An optical driving device characterized in that when the locking mechanism is in the locked state, the actuator is at least one of a state in which the actuator is not driven and a state in which a warning operation is performed according to the operation of the driving device side operation member. The optical apparatus has a detecting means for detecting that the lock mechanism is in the locked state and the unlocked state,
The optical drive apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit acquires a detection result of the detection unit through communication with the optical device.   The optical drive device according to claim 1, further comprising detection means for detecting that the lock mechanism is in the locked state and the unlocked state.   The lens-side operation member that can be manually operated, and a lock mechanism that can be switched between a locked state that restricts the movement of the lens-side operation member and an unlocked state that releases the restriction. An optical apparatus, wherein the optical drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is detachably mounted. The optical device is a lens device that is detachably attached to an imaging device having an imaging element and has a photographing optical system.
An optical apparatus that communicates warning information to the imaging device in response to an operation of the driving device side operation member when the locking mechanism is in the locked state. An imaging apparatus having an imaging element, to which an optical device as a lens apparatus according to claim 5 is detachably mounted,
An imaging apparatus which performs a warning operation in response to receiving the warning information. Removable from an optical apparatus having a lens-side operation member that can be manually operated, and a lock mechanism that can be switched between a locked state that restricts the movement of the lens-side operation member and an unlocked state that releases the restriction. A computer program for operating a computer of an optical drive device mounted and having a drive device side operation member and an actuator for driving the lens side operation member,
In the computer,
When the lock mechanism is in the unlocked state, the actuator is driven according to the operation of the driving device side operation member,
An optical drive program characterized in that when the lock mechanism is in the locked state, at least one of a state in which the actuator is not driven and a state in which a warning operation is performed in accordance with an operation of the driving device side operation member .